For some it may sound like a dream come true, others may feel reminded of the horror film "Shining": A British couple spent the lockdown in an 800 year old castle. Usually employed there, it was now allowed to use the wine cellar, spa and in-house cinema all by itself. So much luxury has its conditions.
The “Ashford Castle” is embedded in a 350 hectare property in the west of Ireland. The 800-year-old property with 83 guest rooms has its own cinema hall, a spa and a tea room, and a spacious wine cellar. The guests of the hotel are correspondingly glamorous. Hollywood star Brad Pitt, former US President Ronald Reagan and former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan have already checked in there.
Taking care of such illustrious visitors is usually the job of Laura Jamiesons, 23, and Michael Smiths, 28. Both are employed at Ashford Castle, the former country home of the Guinness family. Due to the corona pandemic, it will have to close on March 25th.
But even if the guests stay away, the premises of the luxury property must be kept in check. Laura and Michael, who got to know and love each other at work, surprisingly receive a request from the hotel manager whether they want to take on this task. And so the couple moved into the stately castle in the country for a total of eight weeks.
The couple has to flush the 160 toilets every day
"It may sound like a Disney movie, a couple playing prince and princess," Michael tells the British daily "Guardian", "But the truth is: our day-to-day work was very modest". The tasks of the two consist of vacuuming, dusting the chandelier, answering administrative tasks such as emails and participating in zoom meetings. In addition, the two British have to flush the 160 toilets every day. That was a good workout, jokes Michael. Every day Laura and he would have walked 25,000 to 30,000 steps due to the size of the property.
The employees spend the end of the day in the castle's own cinema
After work, the young couple were allowed to enjoy the luxurious temporary hostel to the fullest. For example, the two of them regularly spent a “Date Night” in the cinema equipped with 32 red velvet armchairs. Also included: a fine wine from the in-house wine cellar. This way, Laura and Michael watched all eight seasons of Game of Thrones.
“Ordinary” activities such as baking banana bread are also on the agenda. "A real disaster despite five-star cuisine," Michael recalls to "CNN". Because: “If you trigger the fire alarm in an ordinary house, it only activates in the kitchen. But if you trigger it in a hotel, you can hear it in the entire building ”.
Living in the 800 year old property is sometimes creepy
Sometimes life at the Irish castle was also scary, Laura continues to tell the US television station. As the property has existed since 1228, the portraits of all the former lords decorate the walls of the Victorian wing by the young couple spending the lockdown.
Sometimes it looked as if the characters in the paintings were watching the new residents. "That's why Michael had fun jumping out of corners and scaring me."
As of July 20, the “Ashford Castle” will receive guests as usual. Before this date, Laura and Michael have to return the keys to the hotel manager and return to their own apartment in the neighboring village. Michael does not want to think about it yet: "Then it means back to reality".